I had to find my voice

This year's International Children's Peace Prize goes to Neha Gupta.The 18-year-old Indian-American found Empower Orphans for vulnerable children when she was just nine.

Q. Tell us the story behind Empower Orphans. How did it all begin?

A. My journey began when I was nine. While visiting my grandparents in India, we made our traditional visit to the local orphanage. There I befriended an orphan girl, Gayatri, who was being teased by other girls because she did not know her own birthday. I was shocked. For a nine-year-old growing up in the West, a birthday is one of the most anticipated times of the year. In that moment, I knew that I had to help these children. Thus Empower Orphans was born.

Q. What were the challenges on the way?

A. Frankly, the challenges that I have faced are nothing compared to what every vulnerable child faces daily. Some of the problems that I faced are typical of any young person starting their own organisation: adults not taking you seriously, insufficient funding, lack of committed volunteers, lack of empathy by my peers and so on.

Q. How has this work changed your life?

A. Empower Orphans is a principal component of my identity. The experiences I have had and the people I have met are unforgettable. They are the root of my present confidence and compassion. Enabling individuals to triumph over poverty has also strengthened my hope that a better future is possible for the forgotten children of the world.

Q. How did you react when you heard about the prize?

A.I was ecstatic. The International Children's Peace Prize gives me a platform to expand my work globally to help children with education and healthcare.

Q. What's next?

A. The immediate plan is to go back to college so that I can catch up on all the classes that I have missed. I also have a few speaking engagements in 2015. In summer, I plan to travel to India and the Philippines to conduct a few projects. by Maroosha Muzaffar

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